Marina Koorkoff  

Marina Koorkoff was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia.  At age 15 she came with her parents to the United States.  Her experiences as an immigrant adolescent amidst her family’s struggles to redefine their roles and functions in the new country had contributed to her curiosity about the interplay of psychological, cultural, and family systems’ dynamics.  These experiences had also awakened her deep compassion toward children and adults going through profound personal crises.  She had obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with the minor in Russian Literature from University of California, Los Angeles, followed by the Master of Science in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from San Francisco State University.  Marina is currently getting her Ph.D. from California Institute of Integral Studies in East-West Psychology. 

Marina had been a Child and Family Mental Health Clinician for over 11 years.  In 2013, she became an adjunct instructor teaching courses on Peer Support/Psychosocial Rehabilitation at Columbia College.  She strongly supports the Recovery Model in delivery of mental health services and promotes empowerment of peers as the agents of positive change in human services, education, and communities. This model also recognizes the impact of childhood trauma on various domains of human behavior.   She is now offering courses in Psychology and Child Development.